On the winter morning, the rising sun wasn’t particularly scorching. The distant mountains and wilderness were all grayish-white. One hundred thousand Pingnan Army troops had already assembled, their banners fluttering in the wind, their military formation solemn and imposing. The vast ranks seemed to converge into an ocean with no visible end.

What surprised Qin Yining and Pang Xiao the most was that nearly a thousand able-bodied men had gathered right next to the city gates. They held hoes, iron spades, door bars, and other implements, each carrying simple bundles on their backs. Upon seeing the carriage exit the city gates, they immediately looked over with hopeful eyes in unison.

Yun Yan had been waiting at the city gates for quite some time and immediately hurried to the carriage: “My lord, these nine hundred sixty-one men heard three days ago that Your Lordship would lead the Pingnan Army to the capital as loyalist forces. They came specially, planning to join Your Lordship’s ranks and head north together.”

Pang Xiao raised his eyebrows in surprise, lowered the carriage curtain, patted Qin Yining’s hand, and got out of the carriage.

Xie Yue, Xu Weizhi, and other advisors also dismounted from their carriages and followed behind Pang Xiao.

Pang Xiao cupped his hands, his deep voice carrying far: “Fellow villagers, the Tatar war situation is urgent. This prince is leading troops to the capital for loyalist service, and there will inevitably be a bloody battle with the Tatars. On the battlefield, swords and blades have no eyes, and the cruelty far exceeds your imagination. You may very well lose your lives because of this. When we truly reach the battlefield, this prince cannot guarantee each person’s safety. Please, all of you, return home.”

“My lord!” A man over thirty stepped forward and called out loudly. “All of us are only alive because we ate grain that Your Lordship bought. Without Your Lordship, our lives would have been lost long ago. Now the Tatars are bullying us to our very heads – there’s no reason for Your Lordship to lead people to fight desperately while we peacefully stay home living comfortable lives.”

“Exactly so.” Another clean-featured young man in his early twenties said, “When the nation faces disaster, this is precisely when manpower is needed. Though we are lowly people, we understand what fate would befall us if the Great Zhou fell into foreign hands. We wish to contribute our meager strength for the Han people. Please grant us this, Your Lordship.”

After these two spoke first, the nine hundred-plus men immediately voiced their agreement loudly. The city gates echoed with everyone’s roars, even shocking the Pingnan Army assembled in the distance under Governor Feng’s leadership.

Everyone said that Pang Xiao used his own silver to purchase grain to feed the people, and some had secretly mocked Pang Xiao for acting foolishly. But this shocking scene now proved that his efforts had been rewarded.

The common people were simple and honest. Their willingness to follow Pang Xiao today might partly stem from thoughts of joining the army for military pay, which was completely understandable – human nature. Whether due to their gratitude or patriotic feelings, it was all admirable.

When the nation faced disaster, those with wealth and power weren’t seen stepping forward – it was truly the common people who stood up. This was genuinely moving.

Pang Xiao bowed all around, expressing his gratitude. After repeatedly confirming that these people were indeed determined to join the loyalist army, Pang Xiao consulted with Governor Feng and incorporated these untrained new soldiers who had never seen battle into the Pingnan Army.

One hundred thousand people departing for the capital – the magnificence and grandeur of such a procession was imaginable, but most importantly was how to procure provisions after the disaster.

Leaving the old capital, Pang Xiao returned to the carriage, his brow carrying additional melancholy.

Qin Yining handed him a water pouch: “Drink some hot water.”

Pang Xiao quickly took it and smiled: “How do you feel? Are you well?”

Qin Yining smiled gently, “I’m naturally fine. I haven’t had to do anything on this journey – I’m just watching the excitement from inside the carriage. How could there be anything wrong?”

Moving closer to Pang Xiao, Qin Yining asked with a smile: “Are you worried about feeding so many mouths?”

Pang Xiao nodded, honestly saying: “Before troops move, provisions must go first. Though I’ve already ordered people to purchase in advance, first, our silver isn’t enough, and second, the previous disaster relief already used up much of our grain reserves. Now we need to feed one hundred thousand people, and the court won’t provide silver – this is truly an enormous expense.”

His phoenix eyes looked toward Qin Yining, immediately transforming into a smile: “Well, don’t think too much about these matters. Just focus on taking care of your body and safely delivering the child in the future – that’s already enough. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to handle all these court affairs properly.”

Qin Yining pulled his hand and shook it, pondered for a moment in silence, then suddenly burst into giggles.

Seeing her laugh like this, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but laugh along, embracing her waist so she could lean against him: “Why are you suddenly so happy? Did you think of something amusing?”

“Indeed I did. I have a method to procure provisions, though this tactic is somewhat underhanded.”

Pang Xiao raised his eyebrows curiously, “What good method did you think of?”

Qin Yining leaned close to Pang Xiao’s ear and whispered her plan.

The more Pang Xiao listened, the brighter his eyes became. By the time Qin Yining had told him her entire plan, he couldn’t help but burst into hearty laughter.

“Little girl, only you could think of such a method. Now we won’t have to worry about provisions.”

Qin Yining blushed: “This is also a desperate measure when forced into a corner – not really a proper solution. Though it’s somewhat despicable, at least it can resolve the urgent crisis.”

“Schemes and such don’t count as despicable. If positions were reversed, that person wouldn’t be lenient with us either, and might do even more outrageous things than us.”

“Do you think my method is feasible?”

“Naturally.” Pang Xiao scraped her nose tip with his finger and smiled: “Don’t worry, this method is easy to implement. I’ll have people handle it immediately. We also shouldn’t follow the troops – I’ll have Governor Feng take charge of the rear guard while we go ahead to prepare provisions. Getting everything ready will prevent everyone from going hungry and disrupting military morale.”

Qin Yining nodded, “That’s exactly what I mean. Going ahead is good for us too. When everything is prepared, it’ll prevent chaos later.”

Pang Xiao discussed quietly with Qin Yining again, and after confirming everything was correct, he got out of the carriage to find advisors like Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi.

Upon hearing this idea, the advisors’ tightly furrowed brows couldn’t help but relax, and several of them gathered together laughing heartily.

“Only the princess consort could think of such a method. Good, this old man thinks this plan is excellent.”

“Exactly so. Actually, we’re not really spreading rumors – we’re telling the truth that the people hope to know.”

“Very good, then let’s arrange for people to handle this.”

Huzi pulled out a blue-covered booklet from his chest, flipped through it, and smiled: “Found it. The first place we’ll pass is Jiuhe County. There’s a wealthy family surnamed Xie here with a very large clan. You could say the entire county is related to this Xie family by blood or marriage, and all the other surnames greatly envy the Xie surname.”

“Actually, such united places are both the hardest and easiest to handle.” Xu Weizhi smiled, “Being so united naturally means one call brings a hundred responses. Moreover, for such a large family to operate to this extent is truly not easy. No one wants the family legacy to end in their hands, so if the clan leader makes an appeal, the other families will be easy to handle.”

Xie Yue and others nodded repeatedly, then all looked toward Huzi.

Xie Yue praised: “Fortunate that you recorded things so thoroughly.”

Huzi scratched his head and smiled: “I was afraid this information about these people might be useful later, and to prevent anyone from defaulting on debts. So during transactions, besides keeping accounts, I also investigated the wealthy families in various places who sold us grain. For those in the remote northern mountains, I was powerless to help.”

Pang Xiao appreciatively patted Huzi’s shoulder: “Fortunate that you were clever. This matter was handled extremely well.”

After everyone reached agreement, Pang Xiao and Qin Yining left the Pingnan Army ranks with their people and headed directly to Jiuhe County.

Pang Xiao had actually provided disaster relief here before. Now that the disaster situation had eased, the local magistrate and people had grown much closer through this natural disaster. Everyone was now economizing, just hoping to survive this winter until spring plowing season arrived.

Everyone was naturally grateful to Pang Xiao, so when Pang Xiao’s group passed through this area, even though they didn’t enter the city, they were still spotted by common people traveling outside the city. The news spread from person to person until everyone knew that Pang Xiao was passing through with his family, choosing to camp temporarily outside the city rather than enter and disturb the people.

The common people couldn’t offer much now, but their gratitude was completely unaffected.

As soon as Pang Xiao’s group stopped to pitch tents, many people poured out from the city gates. Upon seeing Pang Xiao, they bowed with a chorus of voices. Some brought out relief rice they had received to offer to Pang Xiao’s group, while others directly helped the Jinghu Guards set up tents.

Watching these people trying their utmost to do something for him, Pang Xiao felt warmth in his heart, as if all the hardship and anxiety was worthwhile.

“My lord, has the disaster relief in the south ended?” After getting acquainted with Pang Xiao and finding him approachable, some common people boldly came to chat with him.

Pang Xiao smiled: “The relief efforts in the south haven’t ended yet, but now the Tatars are invading and nearly reaching the capital. His Majesty issued an edict commanding troops from across the nation to march to the capital as loyalist forces. This prince is returning to the capital with the Pingnan Army precisely for this reason.”

Upon hearing that the Tatars had reached the capital, the people became anxious and unsettled again.

“If the Tatars win, what will happen to us?” a woman asked those around her with worry.

That person’s face turned pale as he only shook his head: “That would be terrible. We probably wouldn’t have any way to survive. Tatar customs are different from ours – they might treat us like livestock for enslavement.”

Everyone had heard somewhat about what the Tatars had done over the years, and for a moment they were both shocked and angry.

Seeing that everyone had discussed enough, Pang Xiao said: “Everyone needn’t worry too much. His Majesty is wise and decisive in handling affairs, and will certainly resolve this crisis. Just the one hundred thousand Pingnan Army troops I’m leading are enough to give the Tatars serious trouble.”

Upon hearing this, the people couldn’t help but laugh heartily, and the previously somewhat tense atmosphere became cheerful.

Some young people’s eyes lit up as they looked toward Pang Xiao uncertainly: “My lord, we also want to follow and fight the Tatars.”

A thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy asked directly: “My lord, if we follow you to fight the Tatars, will there be food and pay?”

Pang Xiao smiled: “Naturally you must eat. The national treasury is empty, and His Majesty also inherited a mess. Fortunately, His Majesty cares for the people. Even if the capital faces temporary difficulties, this is only temporary. Once we resolve the current problems, all problems will be easily solved.”